Job-seeker turns down interview over AI screening, CEO sends a bitter reply: 'It is, quite frankly, an insult to my time'

Would you agree to be interviewed by a robot? There are plenty of ways that artificial intelligence is used in the hiring process. These days, when every job posting gets flooded with hundreds of applicants, some hiring managers might use an AI tool to sort through them and give them the best of the bunch. But there are all sorts of biases and potential missteps that happen when they do this. Which is why some applicants might want to opt out of these processes. If they're doing their best to put themselves out there in a human way, then shouldn't employers meet that energy and give their application the respect it deserves? 

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  • A man in a headset looks upset at his desk
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • CEO/Owner responded to my email back to HR after rejection.

    K me 10:21 AM to Human Hey team, I chose not to complete the remaining steps. While I can see the time saving benefit of using Ai powered interviewing tools, it is, quite frankly, an insult to my time as a candidate and a good insight into poor company culture. I am not interested in spending my time interviewing for a company that values aptitude surveys and Ai screening over person to person interactions. Wishing you the best luck in this process,
    via u/happypenguinwaddle
  • H to me Thank you for your candid response. Over 80% of candidates who schedule interviews never show up, creating a huge waste of resources on our side. I'm glad you chose not to follow through, as your response demonstrates poor attitude and entitlement. You were warned of the process at the time of your application submission, which also shows a lack of attention to detail, an imperative skill for this position. If you couldn't even follow a simple, streamlined process, what else are you not
    via u/happypenguinwaddle
  • Company sent 40minutes of aptitude common sense survey questions followed by an invite to an Ai interview for an instructional design position. Hard noped out, but had to respond. Super glad I did.
    via u/happypenguinwaddle

  • These tools also might be appropriate in certain fields or certain jobs, but not in others. If you're applying to do creative work, you might be put off by an AI tool in the hiring process. If the company is embracing that technology now, you think, what's going to stop them from using it to replace you down the line? It's a slippery slope, and interviews are a two-way street. You learn a lot about a company in the way that it interviews you. You have the right to decide that it's not a good fit just as much as they have the right not to hire you. But in this story, things got even stickier than that. Using AI tools behind the scenes is one thing, but having to interview an AI “hiring manager” is a whole other thing. 

    When in the middle of the interview process, one prospective employee encountered something he wasn't quite comfortable with. So he decided to speak his mind about the situation. The way he saw it, he was calling out an unfair and disrespectful hiring process. But when the CEO of the company replied, his feeling that he dodged a bullet was even stronger. Commenters were torn on whether or not anyone did the right thing here. Read on to see what happened and decide what you think about it. And be glad you're not the one in that situation.

  • Commenters gave their takes on this exhange.

    j.. Both the op and Dan should have just said "thanks" and moved on. Remember that rarely does sniping actually result in a net positive outcome for the sniper. Therefore they both demonstrated that they are both prone to acting on emotion. Of course the blast radius is usually much bigger when a CEO acts on emotion rather than a rank- and-file employee.
    via u/jashsu
  • griffintwalsh So your probably right that he would be a nightmare to work with. But honestly your message seems more annoying to me than his just because it came out of the blue.
    via u/griffintwalsh
  • siconic While I see a lot of people supporting you, there is so little context, and you sending him a nasty email, justified his response. I think your being a baby.
    via u/siconic
  • A person types on a laptop, composing an email
    via Tina Devidze

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Sure-Concern-7... His response only proved your point, especially coming from the top. Toxicity confirmed.
    via u/Sure-Concern-7161
  • Puzzled Bike9558 Dude, dodged a huge bullet. If that is how the CEO chooses to react to the mildest criticism, then I'm sure the place is a micromanaged nightmare. F___ 'em.
    via u/Puzzled_Bike9558
  • happypenguinwaddle Exactly- and clearly a job they'll replace with ai the moment the technology allows.
    via u/happypenguinwaddle
  • Toronto-1975 ugh. fake corporate "niceness" tests my gag reflex - "wishing you nothing but the best". oh f off. i'd be sending back a "go f yourself Dan".
    via u/Toronto-1975
  • HowPeopleSpend That email alone proves you made the right decision. Best of luck for the future man.
    via u/HowPeopleSpend
  • shazneg Incoming "legal notice" about how you cant share his email, where in he quotes an ai generated nonsensical legal case to prove his point.
    via u/shazneg
  • mewt6 So you have 80% not completing the interview process and you don't ask yourself why ??
    via u/mewt6
  • rarefiedstupor Over 80% never show up to a scheduled job interview? That sounds a lot like nObOdY WAnTs To WoRk AnYmOrE!
    via u/rarefiedstupor
  • Evening_Rock58... I've genuinely never understood why bosses 'engage' in stuff like this. If you're confident you're in the right then... yeah. What's the issue? No biggie. "Okay cool, good luck". Isn't
    via u/Evening_Rock58
  • the whole point of your brilliant Al screening that you're not spending time or resources on candidates that don't eventually get hired? So cool, mission accomplished. Engaging with this person is the exact opposite of that goal. Dodged a bullet OP. Seems like a sensitive, egotistical boss who can't handle feedback.
    via u/Evening_Rock58
  • PopeOfSlack Makes me want apply and not show up. Fuuuuuuuu' that guy, he sounds like a tyrant. Maybe leave a review on Glassdoor to warn others?
    via u/PopeOfSlack
  • Desolate_supreme 80% of the people dont show up? What could that possibly mean?
    via u/Desolate_supreme
  • nottodayoilyjosh Hey chat gpt what does it say about my company culture if 80% of job applicants don't show up to interviews. Is there some way of connecting this to company perception, pay, and culture?
    via u/nottodayoilyjosh
  • Money_is_heinous That response - confirms exactly what you said in your email to them. Bullet successfully dodged. Edit: should have read the comments first, everyone said the same thing :D
    via u/Money_is_heinous
  • yesimahuman I was a CEO once, and the thought of writing this email would never have crossed my mind. H I, I wouldn't have even been involved in this process because I tried to hire smart people and let them do their job. This
    via u/yesimahuman
  • demonstrates a significant lack of maturity and ability to focus on what actually matters. This person is probably micro-managing and a nightmare to work for. You dodged a bullet.
    via u/yesimahuman

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